Electric water-heater.



N0. 793,118. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905. A. D. WRIGHT & E. E. SAGER.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

APPLICATION PILED SEPT.6,1904.

V 1 TNESSES Wm l w UNITED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR D. \VRIGHT AND ELI E. SAGER, OF SEATTLE, IVASHINGTON,

ASSIGNORS OF ONE-HALF TO IVILLIAM O. DICE, OF SEATTLE, IVASH- INGTON;SAID WRIGHT ASSIGNOR OF HIS REMAINING RIGHT TO ANDREIV HEMRICH, OFSEATTLE, \VASHINGTON.

ELECTRIC WATER-HEATER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,118, dated June 27,1905.

Application filed September 6, 190 Serial No. 223,554.

To all whomit may concern.-

Be it known that we, ARTHUR D. IVRIGII'I and ELI E. SAGER, citizens ofthe United States of America, and residents of the city of Seattle, inthe county of King and State of ashington, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Electric ater-Heaters, of which the following isa specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in electric water-heaters, and hasfor its objects to provide an inexpensive device of this class embodyingessential features of simplicity, adaptability, and general eificiencywhich render the device simple of construction, easy to install andrepair, economical of electricity, and capable of heating the water morerapidly.

The above-mentioned and other desirable objects are attained by theconstructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as disclosed onthe accompanying drawings, set forth in this specification, and pointedout in the appended claims.

WVith reference to the drawings filed herewith and bearing likereference characters for corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is aview of the device in longitudinal section and shows the same connectedin an electric circuit. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the device online 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the bar employedin the device.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 5 indicates the shell ofthe device, which is preferably of cylindrical form and composed ofnon-conducting substance, such as porcelain, which when in plasticcondition can be readily molded to the form desired. This shellcomprises a tubular portion 6, of suitable diameter and length, andheads, as 7 and 8, the former of which is preferably formed integralwith the tubular portion and provided with a centrally-located aperture7, while the latter is removable. The tubular portion 6 is formed with awide peripheral flange 9 at each end, and a screw-threadedintake-aperture 10 is provided in the wall of said portion adjacent oneend thereof, while a screw-threaded discharge-aperturc 11 is provided insaid wall adjacent the other end and located at the opposite side of thecasing from the intake, so as to insure more thorough circulation of thewater in the shell as it passes be tween said aperture. Fitting withinthe shell is a bar 12, which is slightly lessin diameter than the boreof the tubular portion and composed of non-conducting material, beingpreferably formed integral with the removable head 8. This bar issubstantially equal in length to the bore of said tubular portion andformed with a centrally-located aperture 13 of comparatively smalldiameter, which extends through said head and is adapted to receivefreely a binding-bolt 14:, the shank of which is inserted thereinthrough the aperture in head 7 and projects from head 8, being suppliedwith a nut on the projecting end adapted to draw the removable headtightly to place on the tubular portion of the shell, suitable packings,as sections of rubber or the like, hav ing previously been placedbetween the inner end of said bar and the fixed head of the shell andbetween said tubular portion and the re movable head to insure the shellfrom leakage. The bar is formed with spaced-apart channels 15 extendinglongitudinally thereof in the periphery and of suitable depth to permitthe water to circulate therein, as will be later understood, and acrossthe outer faces of the ridges which occur between these channels shallowgrooves 16 are formed, which follow a helical course about the bar at acomparatively small pitch. Extending spirally about the bar and fittingin said grooves 16 is an electrical conductor 17, comprising a coil ofwire composed of refractory substance of high resistance, such as Germansilver. This coil extends from one end of the bar to the other and issuitably electrically connected at the extremities with binding-posts,as 18,

which are seated in suitable apertures provided in the heads of theshell and project outwardly therefrom as convenient means for connectingthe said coil in an electric circuit embracing a suitable energizingmedium, as a dynamo, battery, or the like. The bindingposts are ofidentical construction and consist of bolts of suitable material formedwith square heads of suitable diameter to fit snugly in the channels 15,so that the bolts will thereby be held from turning in drawing them toplace. These bolts are each provided with a pair of nuts between whichthe electrical conductors, as 19, which lead to and from the energizerof the electric circuit, are clamped, and the under one of said nutsserves to draw the bolt to place in its seat, a suitable packing havingpreviously been placed under the head of the bolt to prevent leakage.

Connected with the intake-aperture of the shell is an ordinarycheck-valve, as 20, which opens inwardly and is adapted to separate thehot water in the shellfrom the supply during intermissions in drawingwater from the shell when the device is in use, the back pressure of thewater in the shell, due to expansion in heating, serving to keep thevalve closed during said intermissions. This valve is convenientlyconnected with the shell by means of a nipple 21, screwed into theintake-aperture 10, and is provided with a second nipple 22, by which itis connected with a conduit leading from a source of water-supply underpressure through the medium of an ordinary coupling. Fitted in thedischarge-aperture 11 of the shell is a nipple, as 23, which is adaptedas convenient means for connecting the shell with a conduit having asuitable valve or cock, as 24, for controlling the discharge of warmwater.

By forming the shell and bar of non-conducting material a much simplerand more inexpensive construction of the device is attained, asleakageof the electric current from the coil is thereby prevented withoutrequiring expensive insulated joints, coverings, or the like.Furthermore, by providing the channels in the bar a greater area ofheatingsurface is presented to the water, as the surfaces of the wallsof the channels and the periphery of the coil where it crosses thechannels will be entirely exposed.

1n the present instance our invention is directed for use in the home orother places where hot water is intermittently required; but we do notdesire to so limit its use, as it is capable of embodiment as a heatingmedium in circulating systems where hot water is employed for heatingpurposes. 1

To install the device, suitable straps or the like are passed about thetubular portion thereof adjacent the inner edges of the flanges 9 andsecured to a wall or other suitable means of support. The supply anddischarge conduits are then connected with the shell, as 5 heretoforeintimated, and the wires 19, which are usually the positive and negativewires of an ordinary electric system previously installed for lighting,are connected with the binding-posts, and a suitable switch 25 isincluded in the circuit at a convenient point for opening and closingthe same, as desired. When hot water is desired, the switch .is closedto complete the. electric circuit, and thereby energize the coil, whichowing to its resistance is instantaneously brought to a high temperatureby the electric current, and thereby serves to heat the water in theshell and also the bar. As water is drawn from the casing thecheck-valve is opened by pressure of the supply, which flows into theshell and passes about the coil and bar in a comparatively thin sheet,owing to the narrow spacing of the bar from the shell, whereby it ismore quickly heated. The bar owing to its bulk will remain heated for aconsiderable length of time after the electric circuit is opened andserves to keep the water in the shell heated during intermissions ofshort duration in drawing water, while the checkvalve will act to keepthe water in the shell and the supply separated during saidintermissions. It is therefore obvious that the circuit can be openedduring said intermissions and a resultant saving in the use of theelectric current thus attained without danger of the temperature of thewater in the shell being to any marked degree lowered.

When desired to replace or inspect the coil, it is simply necessary toremove the nuts from the lower binding -post and bindingbolt, when thebar with the coil in place can be withdrawn by, lifting the removablehead.

This device is simple and inexpensive of construction, and the partsthereof are readily accessible. Furthermore, it is economical ofelectricity and not likely to get out of order.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States of America,

1. An electric water-heater comprising a shell, a bar disposed therein,and a resistancecoil wound about said bar, said coil being in contactwith said bar at various points about its periphery and spaced therefromat other points.

2. An electric water-heater comprising a shell, a bar of non-conductingmaterial slightly less in diameter than the bore of thecasing anddisposed therein, and a resistance-coil encircling said bar and onlycontacting therewith at spaced-apart points about its periphery.

3. An electric water-heater comprising a shell a bar disposed thereinand provided with longitudinally-extending channels and aresistance-coil wound about said bar.

4. An electric water-heater comprising a shell, a bar disposed thereinand provided with longitudinally-extending channels in the periphery andcomparatively shallow grooves in the outer faces of the ridges betweensaid channels, and a resistance-coil seated in said grooves.

5. An electric water-heater comprising a shell, a bar disposed thereinand provided with longitudinally-extending channels in the periphery andcomparatively shallow grooves in the outer faces of the ridges betweensaid channels, said grooves following a helical course about the bar,and a resistance-coil wound about said bar in said grooves.

6. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed ofnon-conducting material, a bar slightly less in diameter than the boreof said shell and disposed therein, said bar being composed ofnon-conducting material and provided with longitudinally-extendingchannels in the periphery, and a resistance-coil wound about said bar.

7. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed ofnon-conducting material and provided with an intake-aperture at one sideadjacent one end and a discharge-aperture at the opposite side adjacentthe other end, a bar slightly less in diameter than the bore of saidshell and disposed therein, said bar being composed ofnon-conductingmaterial and provided with longitudinally-extendingchannels in the periphery, and a resistance-coil wound about said bar.

8. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed of non-conducting material and having a removable head, a bar of non-conductingmaterial formed integral with said head and projecting into said shell,means to secure said head in place, and a resistance-coil wound aboutsaid bar.

9. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed ofnon-conducting material and having a removable head, a bar ofnon-conducting material slightly less in diameter than the bore of saidshell and formed integral with said head, said bar being provided withlongitudinally-extending channels in the periphery, means to secure saidhead in place, and a resistance-coil in said casing wound about saidbar.

10. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed ofnon-conducting material and having a removable head, a bar ofnon-conducting material slightly less in diameter than the bore of saidshell and formed integral with said head, said bar being provided with alongitudinally disposed aperture extending through said head, abinding-bolt in said aperture projecting from the opposite head of saidcasing, and a resistance-coil wound about said bar.

11. An electric water-heater comprising a shell composed ofnon-conducting material and comprising a tubular portion having anintegrally-formed head at one end and provided with an intake-apertureadjacent said head at one side and a discharge-aperture at thefoppositeside adjacent the other end, and a removable head, a bar ofnon-conducting material slightly less in diameter than the bore of saidshell and formed integral with said last head, said bar being providedwith a longitudinallydisposed aperture extending through the removablehead, and channels in the periphery, a binding-bolt in said apertureengaged with said fixed head, and a resistance-coil wound about saidbar.

12. An electric water-heater comprising a shell having a fixed head anda removable head each provided with an aperture adjacent the side wall,a bar slightly less in diameter than the bore of said shell andconnected with second head, said bar being provided withlongitudinally-disposed channels in the periphery, binding-posts seatedin said apertures and provided with heads fitting snugly in one of saidchannels, means to secure removable head in place, and a resistance-coilwound about said bar and connected with said posts.

Signed at Seattle, \Vashington.

ARTHUR D. WVRIGHT. ELI E. SAGER. \Vitnesses:

ERNEST B. HERALD, RICHARD SETH J ONES.

